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As of end-March, the three banks had total credit exposure of about $64 billion to China, or roughly 1% of their total assets, according to their financial statements. The FSA's request to look into China-related geopolitical risk was made in May, said two other sources. At a meeting last month, one of the banks was asked by the FSA how it is assessing risk related to China operations, one of them said. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. Dealing with China sanctions would be extremely complex, the executive added.

Persons: Banks, SMFG, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Takaya Yamaguchi, Makiko Yamazaki, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Financial Services, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho, American Chamber of Commerce, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, TOKYO, Ukraine, Russia, United States, China . U.S, Beijing, West, Taiwan, U.S, Tokyo, New York

But it sent the case back to a lower court to determine whether the contested agreement violates asylum seekers' right to equal treatment under the law. But the court also found an unaddressed question when it comes to whether the agreement violates equality rights. The agreement stands and the case will return to federal court to determine whether the agreement violates asylum seekers' right to equal treatment under the law. Refugee advocates claimed the agreement violates that right because they argue the United States is less receptive to refugee claims predicated on gender. In March, Royal Canadian Mounted Police intercepted 4,173 asylum seekers on their way to file refugee claims in Canada after crossing irregularly.

Persons: Jamie Chai Yun Liew, Anna Mehler, Denny Thomas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: TORONTO, Rights, Refugee, Supreme, Reuters, Freedoms, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services Agency, U.S . Customs, Border Patrol, U.S . Border Patrol, Customs, Thomson Locations: Canada, United States, Canada's, U.S

☆ Japan will stop yen decline beyond USD/JPY 145, most economists say: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Satoshi Sugiyama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TOKYO, June 15 (Reuters) - Japan's government and central bank will act to stop the yen's decline if it depreciates to the 145 per U.S. dollar level, more than half of economists polled by Reuters said. Fifteen of 28 economists (54%) said the government and the BOJ will take steps such as issuing a warning or intervening into the currency market once the yen weakens beyond 145 per greenback, the June 8-13 poll found. In a separate question on the weak yen's impact on BOJ policy, nine economists (31%) said the central bank's decisions could be swayed by a yen depreciation beyond 145 per dollar. In the poll, all but one - JP Morgan - out of 28 economists corroborated the view, citing an improved bond market functionality and Governor Kazuo Ueda's accommodative remarks so far. BOJ's Ueda has said an end to easy policy would depend on the economy achieving 2% inflation coupled with pay growth.

Persons: Harumi Taguchi, Morgan, Kazuo Ueda's accommodative, Hiroshi Watanabe, BOJ's Ueda, Satoshi Sugiyama, Kantaro Komiya, Veronica Khongwir, Anant Chandak, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Reuters, Bank of Japan, P, Financial Services Agency, Sony Financial Group, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

[1/5] A woman holds an umbrella during a period of high temperatures in Mexico City, Mexico June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Henry RomeroMEXICO CITY/MONTERREY, Mexico, June 15 (Reuters) - Mexican authorities urged people across the country to take safety precautions on Thursday as an unusual late Spring heat wave sent temperatures soaring, with cooler days possibly weeks away. said Abigail Lopez, a nurse in normally sunny but temperate Mexico City who said she was drinking more water and wearing lighter clothes to try to beat the heat. In Mexico City, children splashed around in public fountains and commuters shielded themselves from the sun with umbrellas. "In the last 20 years, we haven't had such a long heat wave," he said.

Persons: Henry Romero MEXICO, Abigail Lopez, Roberto Cardenas, Erik Cavazos, haven't, Brendan O'Boyle, Daniel Becerril, Alberto Fajardo, David Alire Garcia, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Henry Romero MEXICO CITY, of Atmospheric Sciences, National Autonomous University, Nuevo, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MONTERREY, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon

☆ Canada freezes deportation of Indian students who used fraudulent university letters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

OTTAWA, June 14 (Reuters) - Canada will freeze the planned deportation of dozens of students who entered the country using fraudulent university letters of acceptance, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said on Wednesday. Fraser spoke after the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported in March that several students from India had been served deportation papers for using forged documents to enter Canada in an alleged immigration scheme. Official data show there were more than 800,000 foreign students with active visas in Canada in 2022. Canada is a popular destination for international students since it is relatively easy to obtain a work permit. The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change has been supporting the students, saying they have spent years in Canada.

Persons: Sean Fraser, Fraser, fraudsters, Sarom Rho, David Ljunggren, Aurora Ellis Organizations: OTTAWA, Immigration, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, CBC, Migrant Workers Alliance, Thomson Locations: Canada, India

☆ Trump was 'personally involved' in packing boxes and moving them to Mar-a-Lago, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Peter Gelling | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The indictment charges Trump with 37 criminal counts related to his retention of classified documents. The indictment says Trump was "personally involved" in taking classified documents from the White House. "In January 2021, as he was preparing to leave the White House, Trump and his White House staff... packed items, including some of Trump's boxes," the indictment says. Trump caused his boxes, containing hundreds of classified documents, to be transported from the White House to the Mar-a-Lago Club." President Joe Biden also kept classified documents from his time as vice president under President Barack Obama.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, Trump's, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Mike Pence Organizations: Department, Service, Government Services Agency, White House, Lago, Washington Post, National Archives Locations: Mar, Florida

[1/2] Japanese Yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationLONDON/SINGAPORE, May 30 (Reuters) - The yen strengthened on Tuesday on news of a meeting of Japan's finance ministry and central bank, while elsewhere the dollar rose to a two-month high against a basket of its peers after the U.S. debt ceiling deal. The dollar was last down 0.18% against the Japanese yen at 140.18 after the country's finance ministry said senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Japan and Financial Services Agency will meet from 5:30 p.m. (0830 GMT). Japanese central bank policy has been a major focus for investors in the past year after the BOJ last year intervened to strengthen the yen. Kenneth Broux, head of corporate research for FX and rates at Societe Generale, said FX intervention at current levels was unlikely.

☆ Canada and U.S. agree to trace guns intercepted at border
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Canada and the United States have agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation to reduce gun violence," Mendicino said. The United States traces guns by requiring firearm dealers to record the serial numbers of the guns they sell and who purchased them. "Data and information sharing are powerful tools in the fight against gun violence," said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who was also present. Previously, gun tracing in Canada has been inconsistent. Canada traced only 6-10% of guns involved in crimes, according to 2019 data from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), a federal agency.

☆ Japan convening panel on digital yen as BOJ pilot scheme gets underway
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Central banks around the world have scrambled to develop digital currencies to modernize financial systems and facilitate domestic and cross-border payments. But Japan remains undecided on whether to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC), and the BOJ has said the pilot programme may last for several years. "We understand the BOJ's study is making a steady headway," a finance ministry official told reporters. "However, we have not at all decided on whether Japan will issue a CBDC." The BOJ and Financial Services Agency will attend the panel sessions as observers.

TOKYO, March 31 (Reuters) - Japanese regional lenders will be well able to weather even "large" losses on their foreign bond portfolios thanks to strong capital buffers, a senior banking regulator official said, rebuffing concerns fuelled by U.S. banking woes. "Overseas media seem to be focusing on Japanese regional banks in association with the SVB collapse, but I'd like to emphasise that they are completely different," he told Reuters in an interview. Analysts at SMBC Nikko Securities calculated unrealized foreign bond losses at over 70 listed Japanese regional banks totalling 1.4 trillion yen ($10.6 billion) at the end of last year, the worst in decades for global bond markets. "It is true that unrealized losses on foreign bond holdings at some regional banks are large, but the banks have enough capital buffers even when such losses are taken into account," Yashiki said. He also said he saw no immediate need to review Japan's regulatory framework as Japanese banks have grown resilient with significantly improved asset quality.

[1/5] Migrants wait to cross into Canada at Roxham Road, an unofficial crossing point from New York State to Quebec for asylum seekers, in Champlain, New York, U.S. March 25, 2023. U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced changes to the Safe Third Country Agreement on Friday after a record number of asylum seekers arrived in Canada via unofficial border crossings, putting pressure on Trudeau to address it. Roxham Road, which had become a notorious unofficial crossing for asylum seekers into Canada, closed at midnight Saturday. Quebec RCMP did not immediately respond Saturday morning to questions about what will happen to people intercepted at Roxham Road. The new deal's stated aim is to promote orderly migration and ease pressure on communities overwhelmed by a spike in asylum seekers who crossed at places like Roxham Road to avoid being turned back at official entry points.

[1/5] Asylum seekers that stated they were from Afghanistan cross into Canada at Roxham Road, an unofficial crossing point from New York State to Quebec in Champlain, New York, U.S. March 24, 2023. REUTERS/Christinne MuschiMarch 24 (Reuters) - Canada and the United States on Friday changed a two-decade-old refugee agreement as part of their attempts to reduce the record influx of asylum seekers entering Canada via unofficial border crossings. DIRT PATH ENTRYThe vast majority of irregular asylum seekers coming to Canada cross at Roxham Road, a narrow dirt path linking New York State with the province of Quebec. Hours before the new deadline kicked in, Roxham Road was relatively quiet. A Reuters photographer at Roxham Road saw a group of 11 Turkish refugees cross into Canada, brought to the border by a Turkish Uber driver.

Credit Suisse fell 8% in Europe and First Republic tumbled 30%. Banking troubles revived memories of the 2008 financial crisis, when dozens of institutions failed or were bailed out with billions of dollars of government and central bank money. Earlier this week, the franc plunged the most against the dollar in one day since 2015, when the Swiss central bank loosened its currency peg. Japan's Ministry of Finance, Financial Services Agency and Bank of Japan officials met on Friday evening to discuss financial markets. Masato Kanda, vice finance minister for international affairs, told reporters after the trilateral meeting that the government, the central bank and the banking watchdog would coordinate to ensure the stability of the financial system.

☆ Relief rally on bank rescue lifts riskier currencies; dollar slips
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Aussie jumped 0.76% to $0.6708 in Asia trade on Friday, while the kiwi rose 0.69% to $0.6239. The move followed Credit Suisse's (CSGN.S) announcement earlier on Thursday that it would borrow up to $54 billion from the Swiss National Bank, after the central bank threw a financial lifeline to the embattled Swiss lender. Earlier in the week, the Swissie had plunged the most against the dollar in a day since 2015. It was last 0.56% higher at 133.01 per dollar, on track to rise more than 1% for the week. Reporting by Rae Wee; Editing by Bradley Perrett and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan says closely coordinating with BOJ, overseas authorities on banking issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Japanese policymakers have so far stuck to the view that the possibility of another financial crisis is low. On Friday, Suzuki said he was closely watching financial markets in and outside of Japan and for any impact from problems in the banking sector in the West on the Japanese economy. Japan has multilateral currency swap arrangements with Southeast Asian economies to prepare for crises like the 1997/98 Asian currency crisis. However, a bilateral currency swap arrangement with South Korea expired several years ago. "Nothing has been decided on financial track issues such as bilateral currency swap," Suzuki added.

☆ Two Canadian firms included in US sanctions list for alleged support to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Kanishka Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - The United States' list of recently sanctioned entities for alleged support for Russia's war effort in Ukraine includes two Canadian companies, U.S. and Canadian authorities said on Monday. The Commerce Department recently imposed export curbs on nearly 90 Russian and third-country companies and prohibited them from buying items such as semiconductors. The Commerce Department list did not mention what the two firms shipped or attempted to ship that triggered U.S. action. He added the company intended to engage further to address the concerns but could not comment on any specifics at this point. Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Cole Burston/File PhotoFeb 24 (Reuters) - Airports are taking steps to avoid gridlock during the upcoming holiday travel seasons, with some limiting flights during peak hours to avoid the long lines and luggage piles that marred last summer. While smoother holiday travel is expected for Europe and North America, airlines and airports which learned tough lessons on holiday travel in 2022, are taking a more prudent approach as global traffic rebounds roughly to pre-pandemic levels. Despite extensive planning and hiring this year, some airlines and airports are still wrestling with industry staff shortages, including baggage handlers. Germany's Lufthansa AG (LHAG.DE) said it has cut summer flights by an unspecified amount due to shortages of personnel like ground handlers at airports in Frankfurt and Munich. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency were not immediately available to comment on staffing.

☆ Kazuo Ueda is set to become Japan's next central bank governor. Here's what it means
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesKazuo Ueda is set to become the next governor of the Bank of Japan, succeeding current central bank chief Governor Haruhiko Kuroda. Kishida recently emphasized the need for the next central bank governor to have "global communication skills" and be able to coordinate closely with global peers, Reuters reported, citing his comments in parliament. He has led the central bank's ultra-dovish monetary policy, including maintaining a negative interest rate since 2016 – even as global peers have been hiking to tackle inflation. Bank of America Global Research expects gradual policy normalization under the central bank's new leadership instead of an abrupt change, according to the firm's economists led by Izumi Devalier. 'Well-suited' deputiesJapan's government also reportedly announced its nominees for other central bank roles including Shinichi Uchida, currently the central bank's executive director, and Ryozo Himino, the former chief of Japan's Financial Services Agency.

☆ Japanese yen jumps on report Kazuo Ueda will be next governor of the central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Bank of Japan left its monetary policy unchanged on Wednesday. The Japanese yen pushed higher against both the euro and U.S. dollar on Friday after a Nikkei report said Kazuo Ueda would be appointed as the Bank of Japan's next governor. Economist Ueda is a former member of the central bank's policy board. Kuroda has overseen the BOJ's policy of ultra-low interest rates while other major central banks have been hiking to tackle inflation. However, Muto added, he may not be a "super hawkish type" – so any "normalization" would take place very slowly.

☆ With over 100 anti-LGBTQ bills before state legislatures in 2023 so far, activists say they're 'fired up'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

So far, Texas has taken the lead with 36 such bills, according to Equality Texas, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group. Four states — Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona — have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for minors, though federal judges have blocked them from taking effect in Arkansas and Alabama. State Sen. David Bullard, the Republican sponsoring the bill, told The Oklahoman that gender-affirming medical care is a “permanent change in your body that cannot be reversed. Accredited medical associations — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association — have supported gender-affirming care for minors. Advocates and doctors who treat trans youth have said many of the health care restrictions proposed by state legislators mischaracterize what gender-affirming care is.

Arizona Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs is taking the state’s child protective services agency in a radically different direction in the wake of a ProPublica-NBC News investigation into the racial disparities that have plagued the child welfare system here. This week, Hobbs, a Democrat, announced that she has selected Matthew Stewart, a Black community advocate, as the new head of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety. Arizona’s child welfare system has long disproportionately investigated Black families. After leaving DCS, Stewart formed the community organization Our Sister Our Brother, which has fought the department for more equitable treatment of Black and also low-income parents. Child welfare experts in the state and families affected by the system praised Stewart’s selection, though some wondered how much change he could bring about even in DCS’ top position.

☆ Explainer: How will Japan resolve shipping insurance for Russian LNG imports?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Yuka Obayashi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Japan's Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, Sompo Japan Insurance and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance told shipowners last week that from Jan. 1 they would stop offering insurance coverage for ship damage caused by war in Russian waters, because reinsurers were withdrawing coverage. Japan receives 9% of its imported LNG from Sakhalin-2, which is owned by Gazprom (GAZP.MM) and Japanese trading houses. Loss of supply from Sakhalin-2 could send Japanese power and gas utilities such as JERA and Tokyo Gas Co Ltd (9531.T) scrambling for alternatives. It has had to persuade G7 partners to give it leeway so it could keep importing Russian LNG, and after the Russian government decided in June to seize control of Sakhalin-2, Japanese trading houses had to agree to remain as shareholders of the new Russian operator. read more"The top priority now is to secure marine war insurance," a senior official at the industry ministry said.

☆ Crypto exchange Kraken to shutter its Japan operations after global layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Digital currency exchange Kraken will close down its operations in Japan next month, in another sign of consolidation in the battered crypto industry. In a blogpost on Wednesday, Kraken said it would cease crypto trading services through its Japanese subsidiary, Payward Asia, and deregister from Japan's Financial Services Agency on Jan. 31, 2023. It is the second time Kraken has left the Japanese market. It cited a combination of "current market conditions in Japan" and a "weak crypto market globally" as the reasons behind its decision. Japanese customers will have until Jan. 31 to withdraw their fiat and crypto holdings from the Kraken platform, the company said.

☆ Crypto exchange Kraken to stop operations in Japan
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 28 (Reuters) - U.S.-based crypto exchange Kraken said on Wednesday it would cease its operations in Japan next month, citing the current market conditions in the country and a weak crypto market globally. Kraken will deregister from the Financial Services Agency (JFSA) as of Jan. 31, by which time clients would have to withdraw their fiat and crypto holdings, it said in a statement. Kraken said it is fully funded to ensure that all affected clients could withdraw their assets in a timely manner. Last month, Kraken said it would reduce its workforce by 30%, or about 1,100 employees, as tough market conditions had crippled demand for digital assets. Bitcoin, the pre-eminent cryptocurrency, has lost 60% of its value this year, while the wider crypto market has shrunk by $1.4 trillion, squashed by the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX empire, Celsius and supposed 'stablecoins' terraUSD and Luna.

☆ Japan govt asks insurers to retain marine war insurance for LNG shippers in Russian waters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The Japanese government has requested insures to take on additional risks to continue providing marine war insurance for liquefied natural gas (LNG) shippers in Russian waters, a senior official at the industry ministry said. The Financial Services Agency and Agency for Natural Resources and Energy made the request in a letter to the country's general insurance association. Tokyo wants to ensure Japan will continue to import LNG from the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia, the official told Reuters. Three Japanese insurance companies that are set to halt marine coverage of risks related to the war in Ukraine starting next month are in talks with reinsurers to resume those operations, they said on Monday. read moreReporting by Yuka Obayashi Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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